Title – Contractions

By – Beth Matheson

Subject – Language Arts

Grade Level – 2nd

CONTRACTIONS

Attention getter: Blow up a balloon-ask what happened? (It expanded). Let the air out – what happened? (It CONTRACTED-which means to get smaller).

Vocabulary: Apostrophe “cousin to the comma” (in the air)

Give all students mini elbow macaroni to use for apostrophe.

SING (Tune-London Bridge)

(1) I’m the first word don’t change me, don’t change me, don’t change me. I’m the first word don’t change me-oh no just let me be.

(2)Certain letters are taken out……a shorter word you’ll see.

(3)Apostrophe will fill that space…one word will remain.

Activity: Make a contraction: Fold a sheet of paper in half — cut told portion vertically to represent the two words did not (students write did not on top two flaps). Lift and have students combine did not on back flap to create one word didn’t (glue the macaroni in place of missing letter/letters).

Enrichment: Newspaper/magazine Go on a contraction hunt-give students a transparent color chip and place on contraction. Students categorize contractions under class headings:

n’t=not ‘ll=shall/will ‘re=are and so on…..

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Beth Matheson

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